Comcast Targets Netflix With 'Streampix' Video Service

Comcast on Tuesday announced plans for a streaming video service that will provide subscribers with a Netflix-like service known as Streampix.

Comcast on Tuesday announced plans for a streaming video service that will provide subscribers with a Netflix-like service known as Streampix.

The offering will provide access to full seasons of select TV shows as well as movies. To kick things off, Comcast has worked out licensing agreements with providers like Disney-ABC Television Group, NBCUniversal, Sony Pictures, Warner Bros. Digital Distribution, and Cookie Jar Entertainment. That includes access to past full seasons of 30 Rock, Grey's Anatomy, Heroes, Lost, Married ... with Children, The Office, Ugly Betty, and The Secret Life of the American Teenager. Movies include Analyze That, Brokeback Mountain, Ocean's Eleven, and more.

Kids programming includes Cookie Jar's Inspector Gadget, Paddington Bear, and Strawberry Shortcake, as well as the Disney Channel's The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and Wizards of Waverly Place.

But unlike Netflix, non-Comcast users won't be able to sign up for Streampix just yet. At the outset, Streampix will be included with many Comcast triple-play packages and will be available for an extra $4.99 per month with other video packages.

"Streampix is another step moving TV Everywhere forward by giving customers access to an even greater library of popular choices to watch," Marcien Jenckes, senior vice president and general manager of Comcast Video Services, said in a statement.

"TV Everywhere" allows cable subscribers to access their provider's content on the Internet. Comcast, for example, has XfinityTV.com, which provides streaming access to recently aired TV shows, as well as movies and TV shows from the premium channels to which they subscribe. Like the free portion of Hulu.com, though, XfinityTV, in most cases, only provides access to the last few episodes of the most-current season. Streampix will provide full seasons or series runs, like Netflix Watch Instantly.

Comcast said that Streampix will complement XfinityTV, creating a "comprehensive video solution."

Earlier this month, Verizon and Redbox owner Coinstar announced plans to launch their own joint venture, which will offer DVD rentals and streaming video later this year. Time Warner Cable also recently launched a beta version of a streaming video service that will let subscribers watch video right from their computers.

Services like Netflix and Hulu, meanwhile, have been dabbling in original content. Netflix recently started airingLilyhammer, while Hulu started airing its first scripted series, dubbed Battleground.

Chloe Albanesius has been with PCMag.com since April 2007, most recently as Executive Editor for News and Features. Prior to that, she worked for a year covering financial IT on Wall Street for Incisive Media. From 2002 to 2005, Chloe covered technology policy for The National Journal's Technology Daily in Washington, DC. She has held internships at NBC's Meet the Press, washingtonpost.com, the Tate Gallery press office in London, Roll Call, and Congressional Quarterly. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in journalism from American University...
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